Lipstick case

ABSTRACT

A lipstick case comprising a container and a seat for a stick of lipstick. The seat can be moved slidingly within the container, to present the stick at one end of the container. Inside the container is a spring means which on engagement locks the seat. Outside the container a driving means can be actuated which then disengages the spring means and moves the seat within the container.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,728,034 Winter 1 Apr. 17, 1973 LIPSTICK CASE [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Christian Winter, Eschenau/Mfr., UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany 2,043,250 6/1936 Kasdan et a]. ..40l/84 [73] Assignees: Robert Huck, Nurnberg; Gunter 13;; g

, ove g Stuttgart both of 2,528,839 11 1950 Mason ...40l/66 ermany 2,609,922 9/1952 Book .401/55 Filed: May 11, 1971 Appl. No.2 142,829

Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Att0rneyHolman & Stern ABSTRACT May 13, 1970 Germany ..P 70 17 807.3 A lip ick case comprising a Container and a seat for a stick of lipstick. The seat can be moved slidingly us. 01 ..40l/84, 401/66 within the container. to present the stick t one end o Int. Cl. ..A45d 40/02 the container- Inside the container is a p g means Fi ld f S h 40 /49' 2 34 which on engagement locks the seat. Outside the con- 40 5 60 0 59, 65, 66, 107, tainer a driving means can be actuated which then dis- 4 engages the spring means and moves the seat within the container.

17 Claims, 18 Drawing'Figures lQ-E 4o 45 I M k i 3 Z4 8 9 1 PATENTEDAPRI Hm 3'. 728.034

SHEET 1 BF 6 LEVI/l IN VEN TOR CHRISTIAN WINTER PATENTEUAPW 3.728.034

SHEET 2 BF 6 INVENTOR CHRISTIAN WINTER- PATENTEBAPR 1 H975 SHEEI 3 0F 6 v INVENTOR CHRISTIAN WINTER PATENTED APR 1 71975 Y sum u 0F 5 PATENTEI] APR 1 71975 SHEET 8 8F 6 INVENTOR CHRISTIAN WINTER LIPSTICK CASE This invention relates to a case having means to continuously position the contents at one end of the case as the said contents are being used. For convenience the contents will taken to be a stick of lipstick, though the invention is not held to be limiting in this respect.

Known lipstick cases of this type consist of an inner lining sleeve, a means for moving lipstick along the longitudinal axis of said case, a seat containing a cupholder for the lipstick which; seat can be moved by means of a driving means in the longitudinal direction.

A considerable disadvantage of such lipstick cases is that after the driving means has been actuated, the lipstick is not locked in the required position for use. For instance, if the driving means is not held sufficiently firmly after the lipstick has been pushed up, the lipstick immediately slides down again into the case on being used because of the presure transmitted onto the stick.

The present invention sets out to provide a lipstick case, the iipstick moving means of which can be fixed in any desired position. Unintentional displacement should not be possible and the lipstick is prevented from moving beyond the uppermost position so that it cannot disengage from the moving means and fall out of the case.

Accordingly the present invention provides a lipstick case which comprises:

a. a container;

b. a seat for a stick of lipstick, said seat being slidably movable along the longitudinal axis of said container, thereby presenting the stick at one end of said container;

. a spring means which engages to prevent relative movement between said seat and the container; and

d. a driving means, being actuated from ouside the container so as to disengage said spring means and to move said seat along the longitudinal axis of said container.

Optionally the container is rectangular in transverse cross-section.

Preferably the spring means cooperates with a longitudinally placed toothed rack to prevent relative movement of the seat.

Preferably the spring means is mounted on the inside of the container.

The spring member and toothed rack can form a coupling which is uncoupled when the driving means is actuated and automatically engages when actuation of the driving means ceases. Since one of the two parts of the coupling is mounted in a fixed manner, this means that when the coupling engages, the other part of the coupling, e.g. the lipstick moving means, is also locked against vertical displacements.

Accordingly if the user of such a lipstick case has moved the lipstick up far enough, one merely needs to release the driving means, whereupon the lipstick retains its position without moving until the driving means is actuated again.

Preferably, the spring member is mounted in a recess in the lining sleeve of the container on the side of the sleeve opposite from the driving means. The upper part of the spring member, which can be in the form of a crosshead, being preferably immovably retained in a niche of the'recess between casing and lining sleeve,

whilst the lower part of the spring member is mounted in another niche of the recess between casing and lining .sleeve, yet being slidable to a limited extent in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sleeves. This method of mounting is simple for manufacturing and assembling; it is also reliable in operation.

Optionally, the spring member can have a spring clip which projects internally within the sleeve, the furthermost projecting portion of which clip has associated therewith a stud engaging in the oppositely located toothed rack in the untensioned position.

An acutating bar can be fixed to the spring clip which bar passes through the seat of the lipstick moving means and the free other end of which bears against the driving means which is in the form of a friction wheel.

In order to prevent the lipstick moving means from passing beyond the uppermost position, it is advisable to provide in addition to the spring clip, a stop extending downwardly from the crosshead. A locking member fixed to the seat then makes contact with this stop in the uppermost position of the seat.

When actuating the friction wheel by means of the actuating bar, the axle of the friction wheel preferably is mounted in a slot, the axis of which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the case, in order to cause disengagement of the toothed rack spring member coupling.

In an alternative manner, retaining brackets are attached to the spring clip and circumvent on each side of the seat to enable the ends of the brackets to be associated with the driving means. Actuation of the driving means causes disengagement of the toothed rack spring member coupling in a similar fashion to above.

It is advantageous if each of the retaining brackets has at its free end a hole in which the driving means can be mounted.

In order to ensure satisfactory adjustability of the driving means, the seat can have on each of its opposite sides a groove extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the case, in which groove engages a guide associated with the lining sleeve, each guide having a passage for the arms of the retaining bracket.

The axle of the gear wheel may likewise be mounted displaceably in grooves accommodating the actuating bars and bears loosely against the free ends of the actuating bars. The seat of the lipstick moving means, which may be provided on one side located opposite the recess for the driving means with a toothed rack, can have on each of its two sides a groove extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container, in which groove engages a guide associated with the lining sleeve, each of which guides has a passage for the actuating bars.

The latter design enables manufacture of the actuating bars and associated components as an injection moulded part of plastics material in one piece, which is extremely advantageous from a costs point of view.

The present invention will be further described with respect to several non-limiting embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through an embodiment of a lipstick case according to the invention taken along the line I'I of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-section through this lipstick case taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section'through this lipstick case along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a part of the longitudinal section according to FIG. 1, but with the spring member disengaged;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spring member;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lipstick case;

FIG. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section through another embodiment of a lipstick case according to the invention taken along the line VIl--VII of FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken along the line VIII VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section through this lipstick case taken along the line IXIX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a part of the longitudinal section according to FIG. 7, but with the spring member disengaged;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the spring member;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lipstick case;

FIG. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section through a lipstick case according to a further embodiment of the invention taken along the line XIII-XIII of FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section through this lipstick case taken along the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal section through this lipstick case takenalong the line IVIV of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a part of the longitudinal section according to FIG. 13, but with the spring member in the disengaged position.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the spring member and of the frame consisting of gear wheel, the two actuating bars and base part with stud;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of this lipstick case.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 denotes a lipstick case which is composed of an outer, preferably metal, casing sleeve 2 closed at one end and an inner lining sleeve 3 preferably consisting of plastics material. At its upper end the lipstick case 1 has a removable closure cap 4, which is adapted to be pushed on to the upper projecting edge of the lining sleeve 3. In the lipstick case 1 is mounted, a moving means for the stick of lipstick 5 along the longitudinal axis of the sleeves. The lipstick moving means consists of a seat 6 on which is placed a cup holder 7 for the base of the stick 5, and in the examples of embodiment shown seat 6 and cup 7 are made in one piece.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 the adjustment of the lipstick moving means is effected by a driving means in the form of a friction wheel 8. The friction wheel 8 is displaceably mounted by means of an axle 9 in slots 10 in retaining side plates 11. The plates 11 are fixed to the casing sleeve 2, the wheel being mounted perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the case and with one peripheral portion projecting through the casing sleeve 2 and the lining sleeve 3 through an aperture 12 in said sleeves.

The seat 6, which is guided or held contiguous with the lining sleeve 3 (as shown in FIG. 2), has a transverse duct 13 perpendicular to the friction wheel axis on the other side of which is located a toothed rack 14 in a longitudinal direction. In this toothed rack 14 a stud 15 engages. This stud forms part of a spring member 16, which is mounted in a recess 17 in the lining sleeve 3 located opposite the aperture 12.

The spring member 16 (as shown in FIG. 5) includes a spring clip 18, the furthermost projecting portion of which carries the stud 15. To the same side. of the spring clip 18 there is fixed an actuating bar 19 which passes through the transverse duct 13. The free end of the actuating bar is fashioned into a flange 19a, which biasses against the friction wheel 8. The upper arm of the spring clip 18 passes over into a crosshead 20, from which there extends downwardly parallel or'adjacent to the spring clip 18 a'stop 21, which cooperates with a locking member 22 in the seat 6, in a manner explained below.

FIGS. 1 to 4, especially FIG. 3, show the'outline of the recess 17. Accordingly the said recess has an upper and a lower undercut portion 17a and 17b, in which the crosshead 20 of the spring member and the end of the lower arm of the spring clip 18 respectively fit. Whereas the crosshead 20 is held immovably in the portion 17a of the recess 17, the end of the lower arm of the spring clip 18 has sufficient play in the portion 17b of the recess when the spring member 16 is in the coupling position (see FIGS. 1 and 2), to be able to yield downwardly in the uncoupled position (see FIG. 4) in which it extends further into portion 17b owing to the less curved state of the spring member 16.

The lipstick case operates as follows:

Starting from the closed position as shown in FIG. 6, the cap 4 is first removed. Then by light finger pressure the friction wheel 8 is moved from the outer position according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 (see also the dotted line position in FIG. 4) inwards whereby by means of the actuating bar 19, the spring member 16 is tensioned and the stud 15 is released from the toothedrack 14. The moving means is now unlocked, 'so that by subsequent rotation of the friction wheel 8 against seat 6, the stick of lipstick S can be moved up into the desired position; when this position is reached, the friction wheel 8 is released, the tensioned spring member 16 returns to its untensioned position, thus ensuring both transfer of the friction wheel 8 to the original outer position according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 and engagement of the stud 15 in the toothed rack 14, and hence locking of the lipstick moving means.

After the lipstick has been applied, the same sequence of operations is performed save that the fric-' tion wheel 8 is rotated in the opposite sense since the lipstick 5 is to be moved downwards into the case.

In order to prevent the lipstick moving means being brought beyond the uppermost position, which very easily occurs when the stick 5 is nearly used up, the locking member 22 of the seat 6 abuts against the stop 21 on the spring member 16 in the uppermost position and so stops further advance of the lipstick moving means.

One difference between the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 to 12 and that described above resides in the design of the spring member 16 and the mounting of the seat 6' of the lipstick moving means in the lipstick case I.

As shown in FIG. 11, the spring clip 18 of the spring member 16 has affixed to it transversely a retaining arm 23, the connecting base 24 of which is located in the same plane as the furthermost projecting portion of the spring clip 18 carrying the stud 15. Perpendicular to this base 24 the arm is fashioned'into a limb 250 which extends along the rear of the seat 6. On the front,

side of the spring member 18, opposite to bracket 24 a similar arm projects transversely perpendicular in the form of a limb 25b. This limb extends along the front of the seat 6. Each free end of the limbs 25a and b have a hole 26 adapted to accommodate the axle 9 of the friction wheel 8 in an immovable manner, the ends passing through aperture 12.

As in this embodiment the lipstick moving means or the seat 6 thereof cannot, because of the limbs 25a and 25b be adequately guided or held directly within the lining sleeve 2 as in the previously described embodiment, the seat 6 has on each side a groove 27 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the case, in which groove engages a guide 28 integral with the lining sleeve 3. At the level of the limbs 25a and 25b of the retaining bracket 23, each guide 28 has a space 29 cor-, responding to each transverse limb.

The operation of this lipstick case corresponds substantially to that described above. However, when the friction wheel 8 changes from the outer (disengaged) position according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 12 (see also the chained line position of FIG. to the inner engaged position (full lines in FIG. 10), the spring clip 18 of the spring member 16 is tensioned not indirectly by way of a separate actuating bar 19 but directly by way of the limbs 25a and 2512 which in addition to holding the friction wheel 8 also act as an actuating bar.

In the further embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 18, the spring member 16" with spring clips 18, and the stud 15 with its actuating bars 19 form separately constructed parts.

As shown in FIGS. 13, 14, 16 and 17, the stud 15 forms part of a base part 30, which is permanently biased in the engaging direction for stud 15 by the futhermost projecting portion of the spring clip 18. The base part 30 constitutes one side of a rectangular frame (see particularly FIGS. 14 and 17), the opposite side of which is constituted by the axle 9 of the driving means, in this case a gear wheel 31. Two actuating bars 19 rigidly connected to the base part 30 form the other two sides and lie in transverse grooves 32 in the lining sleeve 3 located opposite one another.

The ends of the axle 9 of the gear wheel 31, which axle bears loosely against the free ends 33 of the actuting bars 19, are also positioned displaceably in the grooves 32. The vertical guides 28 are again present as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 12; these engage in grooves 27 in the seat 6" of the lipstick moving means, and are separated by space 29 for the actuating bar 19' passing through.

Since the driving means is designed as a gear wheel 31, the seat 6" of the lipstick moving means is provided on its side located opposite the aperture 12 with a toothed rack 34. Only part of the gear wheel 31 projects from the case, as its axle 9' is located within the lipstick case 1.

Operation of this embodiment is substantially that described in conjunction with embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 6 and FIGS. 7 to 12. When the gear wheel 31 is moved inwards from the outer position according to FIGS. 13, 14 and 18 (see also the dotted line position of FIG. 16) by finger pressure into the engaging position according to FIG. 16, the spring clip 18 of the spring member 16 is tensioned by the two actuating bars 19, which depress the spring clip 18 by way of the base part 30.

Iclaim:

1. A lipstick case which comprises: a container; 9. seat for a lipstick which seat is slidable within the container in the longitudinal direction of the latter for presenting the lipstick at one end of the container; spring means in the container andmovable between a normal engaged position preventing sliding of the seat, and a disengaged second position permitting sliding of the seat; driving means actuatable from outside the container for sliding the seat, said driving means comprising a manually rotatable member movable between a normal position disengaged from the seat and a second position engaged with the seat for sliding the latter on rotation of said member, the said member and spring means being disposed respectively at opposite sides of the container; and at least one actuating member movable trans-versely relative to the container and coupling the said rotatable member to the spring means whereby on movement of the rotatable member to its engaged second position the spring means are thereby moved to the disengaged second position thereof.

2. A lipstick case as in claim 1 having a toothed rack cooperating with a projection of the spring means in the engaged position thereof for preventing sliding of the lipstick seat.

3. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein said rotatable member is a friction wheel frictionally engageable with a side surface of the seat for sliding the latter,

4. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein said rotatable member is a toothed wheel arranged to mesh with a toothed rack provided on the seat for sliding the latter.

5. A lipstick case as in claim 1 having pivot means of the rotatable member mounted in slots substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container.

6. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein the acutating member is integral with the spring means.

7. A lipstick case as in claim 1 having a pair of actuating members embracing the seat.

8. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein an actuating member extends through a longitudinally elongated passage traversing the seat.

9. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein the container includes an inner lining sleeve and the spring means has a longitudinally placed end disposed between the container and a recess provided in the lining sleeve.

10. A lipstick case as in claim 9 wherein the spring means has a second longitudinally placed end disposed in a recess provided in said lining sleeve for restricted movement therein.

1 l. A lipstick case as in claim 9 wherein an actuating member extends through a recess provided in said lining sleeve.

12. A lipstick case as in claim 2 wherein said projection is provided on a separate member biased by the spring means towards the engaged position.

13. A lipstick case as in claim 12 wherein said separate member is secured to one end of a pair of actuating bars embracing the lipstick seat and guided in transverse grooves in the container, the rotatable member being disposed at the other ends of the actuating bars.

14. A lipstick case as in claim 13 wherein the rotatable member has an axle disposed in said transverse grooves.

stop means on the seat to prevent removal of the latter from the container.

17. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein at least one longitudinal groove provided in the seat engages a guide projection provided in the container. 

1. A lipstick case which comprises: a container; a seat for a lipstick which seat is slidable within the container in the longitudinal direction of the latter for presenting the lipstick at one end of the container; spring means in the container and movable between a normal engaged position preventing sliding of the seat, and a disengaged second position permitting sliding of the seat; driving means actuatable from outside the container for sliding the seat, said driving means comprising a manually rotatable member movable between a normal position disengaged from the seat and a second position engaged with the seat for sliding the latter on rotation of said member, the said member and spring means being disposed respectively at opposite sides of the container; and at least one actuating member movable transversely relative to the container and coupling the said rotatable member to the spring means whereby on movement of the rotatable member to its engaged second position the spring means are thereby moved to the disengaged second position thereof.
 2. A lipstick case as in claim 1 having a toothed rack cooperating with a projection of the spring means in the engaged position thereof for preventing sliding of the lipstick seat.
 3. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein said rotatable member is a friction wheel frictionally engageable with a side surface of the seat for sliding the latter,
 4. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein said rotatable member is a toothed wheel arranged to mesh with a toothed rack provided on the seat for sliding the latter.
 5. A lipstick case as in claim 1 having pivot means of the rotatable member mounted in slots substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container.
 6. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein the acutating member is integral with the spring means.
 7. A lipstick case as in claim 1 having a pair of actuating members embracing the seat.
 8. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein an actuating member extends through a longitudinally elongated passage traversing the seat.
 9. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein the container includes an inner lining sleeve and the spring means has a longitudinally placed end disposed between the container and a recess provided in the lining sleeve.
 10. A lipstIck case as in claim 9 wherein the spring means has a second longitudinally placed end disposed in a recess provided in said lining sleeve for restricted movement therein.
 11. A lipstick case as in claim 9 wherein an actuating member extends through a recess provided in said lining sleeve.
 12. A lipstick case as in claim 2 wherein said projection is provided on a separate member biased by the spring means towards the engaged position.
 13. A lipstick case as in claim 12 wherein said separate member is secured to one end of a pair of actuating bars embracing the lipstick seat and guided in transverse grooves in the container, the rotatable member being disposed at the other ends of the actuating bars.
 14. A lipstick case as in claim 13 wherein the rotatable member has an axle disposed in said transverse grooves.
 15. A lipstick case as in claim 13 wherein the axis of the rotatable member is within the container, said member engaging an aperture provided in the container, in the disengaged position of said member.
 16. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein the spring means includes a fixed stop projection for engaging stop means on the seat to prevent removal of the latter from the container.
 17. A lipstick case as in claim 1 wherein at least one longitudinal groove provided in the seat engages a guide projection provided in the container. 